Monday, November 8, 2010

Child Health Play details!

The Child Health Players proudly present

Tying the Knot

a musical comedy about love and marriage with some very Sewickley twists.

Tickets for performances on Thursday, November 18 and Friday, November 19 go on sale to the general public on Friday, November 5 at the Edgeworth Club. Reserved seat tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for children 12 and under.

The performance begins at 7:30 pm at the Edgeworth Club. Tickets may be purchased at the Edgeworth Club Front Desk daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. Cash or check only; no Club charges or credit card sales.

The play will also be performed at the Child Health Ball on Saturday, November 20. A portion of the proceeds of the Play and Ball will benefit Youth Connect and help fund our community youth worker.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Lots of great events in the very near future....

Tuesday, November 2: Sewickley Academy welcomes back psychologist, consultant, and best-selling author Michael Thompson. In light of the issues raised by the recent film screening of "Race To Nowhere", Dr. Thompson will continue the conversation about “American’s Achievement Culture” by drawing from his book The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life. He will address America’s performance-driven obsession with the accomplishments of its kids and how to best support our children. The event will be held in the Senior School Commons, Sewickley Academy. There will be a light reception and book signing at 6:00 pm, and the presentation will begin at 6:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Thursday, November 4: If you missed Race to Nowhere, or want to view it again: On Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m., Shady Side Academy will host a free screening of the documentary. The screening is free and open to the public and will be held in the Richard E. Rauh Theater of the Hillman Center for Performing Arts on the SSA Senior School campus, 423 Fox Chapel Road, Fox Chapel. The film is 85 minutes long, and guests are invited to stay after the screening for a reception and discussion.

Tuesday, November 9: A follow-up “call to action” meeting will be held to discuss Race to Nowhere, and identify what we might do to make a difference in our community. The meeting will be held at Montessori Children’s Community, 474 Chadwick Street, 7 – 8:30 pm. This discussion is a open to the community. Please join us!

Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested!

SVCF joins supporters of Youth Connect and Youth Worker!

Youth Connect is pleased to announce that the Sewickley Valley Community Fund (SVCF) has pledged a two-year, $5000/year matching grant in support of the Community Youth Worker program. For every two dollars that Youth Connect is able to raise, SVCF will contribute one dollar.

The Community Youth Worker position was piloted over the past year, with great success. Funding is now being assembled to cover the next three years. Floyd Faulkner, hired in August 2009, has had significant impact in this position, from taking yoga classes with middle schoolers to counseling students caught in the judicial system. Youth Connect has already received funding commitments from a number of community foundations and individuals who have first-hand experience with the value of having a Community Youth Worker.

As Marnie Haines, a director of SVCF said, “ Youth Connect, acting within the eleven municipalities, and with the backing of the Quaker Valley School District and other local organizations, is an organization and a program that SVCF believes deserves our support.”

One of the key drivers for this position was the realization that while this community is rich in resources, many of the youth cannot easily access them. The Youth Worker position was designed with the plan to better connect our youth to these resources. The position is administered by Quaker Valley School District, housed at Laughlin Center, and advised by a committee consisting of representatives from the community. This spirit of collaboration is consistent with the values of Sewickley Valley Community Fund.

Individuals interested in making a donation or pledge of support to continue the work of Mr. Faulkner are encouraged to contact Susan Kaminski at 412-741-1430, or youthconnect@hotmail.com. Each gift made in the next two years will help Youth Connect access the matching grant of the Sewickley Valley Community Fund.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Please plan to attend, and pass the word!

Two great community educational events, one on bullying and the other on our “achievement culture”, are coming up in the next few weeks.

October 21: In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, Youth Connect, in conjunction with the Quaker Valley School District and Sewickley Academy, will be hosting a Parent Education presentation entitled: BULLYING: What We See and What We Do. This informational session will be held on October 21, 2010 from 7:00-9:00pm in the Quaker Valley High School Auditorium. A formal presentation will be provided by elementary level and secondary level guidance counselors and administrators followed by more informal discussion. Topics to be covered will include perception data gathered from teachers and students regarding bullying, relational aggression, exclusion, and proactive approaches to a respectful school environment, and how parents can set positive examples of social inclusion, among others. No RSVP is required.

November 2: Sewickley Academy welcomes back psychologist, consultant, and best-selling author Michael Thompson. Dr. Thompson will present on the topic of “Freeing Our Kids from Performance Overdrive” on Tuesday, November 2, in the Senior School Commons. There will be a light reception and book signing at 6:00 pm, and the presentation will begin at 6:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public.

In light of the recent film screening at the Edgeworth Club – Race To Nowhere – an event sponsored by the Montessori Children’s Community, Dr. Thompson will continue the conversation about “American’s Achievement Culture” by drawing from his book The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life. He will address America’s performance-driven obsession with the accomplishments of its kid and how to best support our children. Parents, grandparents, educators, and anyone who cares about children will appreciate Thompson’s strategies to reduce the pressures of our fast-paced society.

Another event that might be of interest to you and your family:

October 25, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at QVHS cafeteria: Empty Bowls dinner to benefit local food charities. Go to http://www.qvsd.org/pagecalpop.cfm?p=2602&verbose=31570 for more information.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

ADHD WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FULL!

Due to overwhelming demand, registration for the October 11 parent workshop on ADHD at Laughlin Children's Center is now closed. Any parents who have not registered but are interested in learning more about ADHD and other attention issues should contact the Center and your name will be added to a mailing list for handouts, as well as an invitation to the next workshop on ADHD to be offered in the spring.

Thank you to those who registered--we'll see you on Monday, 11 October.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A few more announcements...

(1) There will be a Sewickley Skate Park meeting for the community, to be held at the Sewickley Public Library on Tuesday, September 28, 6:00 pm. This is an open meeting for all kids and adults interested in making the park a reality. Please come and support this great effort!

(2) Alan Carson, parent educator and retired Quaker Valley Guidance counselor is offering his 10th annual "Creating a Connected Atmosphere at Home" parenting course to parents. While primarily for elementary and middle school parents, parents of older children are welcome also! This fall the five-week course will be offered in the mornings at the Sewickley United Methodist Church, from 9:15 to 11:00 am beginning on October 12th. The fee for the course, one or both parents, is $35. For more information or to register, contact Alan at 412-680-3843 or through e-mail at parentslead@mac.com

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Two Important Parent Workshops in October!

Youth Connect is partnering with Laughlin Children's Center, Sewickley Academy, and Quaker Valley School District on two parent workshops in October.
On Monday, 11 October, beginning at 6:30, Dr. Donna Bednarek and Dr. Lenore Melmeyer, two of Laughlin's licensed psychologists, will present PAY ATTENTION: A Parent Overview of ADHD and Other Attention Issues. The presentation will take place at the Center, 424 Frederick Avenue, Sewickley. It is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please call 412.741.4087 or email k.miller@laughlincenter.org to reserve a seat. THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL; NO FURTHER REGISTRATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED, BUT INTERESTED PARENTS SHOULD CONTACT LAUGHLIN CHILDREN'S CENTER TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE HANDOUTS AND SIGN UP FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE SPRING ADHD WORKSHOP.

In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, Youth Connect, in conjunction with the QVSD and SA will be hosting a Parent Education presentation entitled: BULLYING: What We See and What We Do. This informational session will be held on October 21, 2010 from 7:00-9:00pm in the Quaker Valley High School Auditorium. A formal presentation will be provided by elementary level and secondary level guidance counselors and administrators followed by more informal discussion. Topics to be covered will include perception data gathered from teachers and students regarding bullying, relational aggression, exclusion, and proactive approaches to a respectful school environment, and how parents can set positive examples of social inclusion, among others. No RSVP is required.